Devine Scripture

Matthew 23:4

What does Matthew 23:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 23:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 23:4 means

Jesus exposes a key aspect of the scribes' and Pharisees' hypocrisy: they impose severe and unmanageable religious requirements and traditions on others, yet they themselves are unwilling to offer any practical assistance or relief. These "heavy burdens" refer not to God's Law itself, which is light, but to their added human traditions and interpretations that made obedience oppressive. This statement highlights their lack of empathy and their self-righteous aloofness, demonstrating a leadership that demands much but gives nothing of itself.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Yea, they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Yea, they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

They make hard laws and put great weights on men's backs; but they themselves will not put a finger to them.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

for they bind together burdens heavy and grievous to be borne, and lay upon the shoulders of men, but with their finger they will not move them.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

For they bind heavy and insupportable burdens and lay them on men's shoulders: but with a finger of their own they will not move them.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

but bind burdens heavy and hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of men, but will not move them with their finger.

Context

Building on the previous warning against following the Pharisees' works, this verse provides a concrete example of their hypocrisy. It illustrates *how* they "say, and do not," by describing their practice of burdening the people with religious requirements without offering help. This serves as a primary piece of evidence for Jesus' earlier command to avoid their example, directly leading into further specific examples of their self-serving religious externalism in the verses that follow.

v.3all things therefore whatsoever they bid you, these do and observe: but do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not.

v.4This passage

v.5But all their works they do to be seen of men: for they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 15:10

    Now therefore why make ye trial of God, that ye should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

  • Matthew 23:23

    Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye tithe mint and anise and cummin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law, justice, and mercy, and faith: but these ye ought to have done, and not to have left the other undone.

  • Matthew 11:28

    Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

  • Luke 11:46

    And he said, Woe unto you lawyers also! for ye load men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.

  • Revelation 2:24

    But to you I say, to the rest that are in Thyatira, as many as have not this teaching, who know not the deep things of Satan, as they are wont to say; I cast upon you none other burden.

  • Acts 15:28

    For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:

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